Lethbridge Olympic bobsleigh coach gears up for final push to Beijing 2022 Winter Games
With the Tokyo Summer Olympics over and the Summer Paralympic Games about to get underway, the world will soon be turning its attention to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.
Lethbridge educator Florian Linder has already been hard at work, helping prepare China’s bobsleigh athletes for the Games, which will be held Feb. 4 to 20, 2022.
Linder was home in Lethbridge over the summer, getting some well-deserved family time after one of the most challenging years of his life -- training world class athletes in the midst of a global pandemic.
“It was a long season last year,” said Linder. “Being home is always nice, and mentally and emotionally it really kind of recharges you.”
Following the 2018 Olympics in South Korea, in which he helped coach the host team to a silver medal, Linder signed on as a technical coach and performance analyst for the Chinese bobsleigh team.
China has little experience in bobsleigh and turned to a team of Canadians to prepare its athletes for Beijing 2022.
The team initially did some of its training in Calgary before the COVID-19 pandemic threw the world and international sport into turmoil.
“Last year we went to China and in the midst of being over there, they decided not to have any of their teams travel last year,” said Linder.
“We actually stayed in China the whole winter, and that has never happened before."
Florian Linder with members of the Chinese bobsleigh team. (Photo courtesy Florian Linder)
China implemented strict restrictions during the pandemic, introducing harsh lockdowns to curb local outbreaks of COVID-19, along with strict border controls and travel restrictions.
When Linder arrived in China he immediately had to undergo three weeks of quarantine in a hotel room.
“You get tested at the airport and put on a bus that goes straight to a quarantine hotel,” he said.
Food was delivered to his door three times a day, and during the quarantine period, Linder was not allowed to leave his room.
“It was challenging,” said Linder, who described the experience as one of the toughest things he has ever had to endure.
Fortunately, he was able to call his family almost daily (Linder’s wife Jill Bakken won gold for the United States as a driver in Bobsleigh at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City) and focused on school work (doing his masters) to help him through the long period of isolation.
Linder said things were fairly normal once he got to the sliding complex and began working with the athletes.
“We’ve seen them develop over the last three years since we’ve been there,” said Linder, who is looking forward to seeing how they perform.
“They’re really gone from the sports they came from, such as track and field and rugby, and they’ve turned into bobsleigh athletes.”
With his brief summer break ending, Linder is now set to return to China, where he will have to go through another lengthy quarantine period before training resumes.
To prepare for the Winter Games, bobsleigh and skeleton athletes from around the world will come together at the new Yanqing Sliding Centre for an international training period, from Oct. 5 to 27.
Qualification for the Olympics is based on the world rankings over the 2021-2022 sliding season, which includes a series of races that conclude Jan. 16, 2022 in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
Murder charge laid after man falls to death from Toronto apartment balcony
One person has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man who fell from a balcony following an altercation inside a Toronto apartment building.
Ukraine's army chief reports tactical retreat in the east, and warns of front-line pressure
Ukraine's troops have been forced to make a tactical retreat from three villages in the embattled east, the country's army chief said Sunday, warning of a worsening battlefield situation as Ukrainian forces wait for much-needed arms from a huge U.S. aid package to reach combat zones.
Zendaya tennis movie ‘Challengers’ scores at weekend box office
Zendaya and castmates Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor have been on a globetrotting press tour to get the word out about Italian director Luca Guadagnino's original film, which opened in 3,477 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Dozens in Italy give a fascist salute on the anniversary of Mussolini's execution
Dozens of people raised their arms in the fascist salute and shouted a fascist chant during ceremonies Sunday to honor Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on the 79th anniversary of his execution.
Have you heard the one about Trump? Biden tries humour on the campaign trail
U.S. President Joe Biden is out to win votes by scoring some laughs at the expense of Donald Trump, unleashing mockery with the goal of getting under the former president's thin skin and reminding the country of his blunders.
'Do not consume': Gift Chocolate recalled due to undeclared milk, soy
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for a specific chocolate brand sold in Ontario and Quebec.
Laurentian University to spend millions on recommendations in second budget post insolvency, but nothing new to reopen pool
Laurentian University's board of governors approved a budget of just over $201.7 million for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.